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Chapter 7164longitudinal relationship between the practitioner and the patient, in term of accommodating patients’ needs and preferences, such as communication and respect for patients. 19 Reported benefits of continuity of care include a better doctor–patient relationship, better preventive care, fewer hospital admissions, reduced healthcare costs, and improved patient satisfaction.19, 20 In studies that focus on primary care to people with ID in general, the importance of continuity of care is also emphasized. 21, 22 The patients in our interview study expressed the importance of GPs having an understanding of their context, life story, and communication needs (Chapter 5). Both patients and GPs see a strong continuous doctor–patient relationship as a key element for this (Chapters 5 and 6). Continuity is jeopardized at various levelsIn daily practice, a practitioner’s longitudinal and relational continuity of care is not always evident (Chapter 5) and is influenced at various levels: the practitioner, the GP practice, and the organization of healthcare. At the practitioner level, we know that certain practitioner character traits can contribute to the quality of the relationship between the primary care provider and the patient. Valued behavioural skills for establishing a quality relationship (confident, empathetic, humane, personal, forthright, respectful, and thorough) 23 may be challenged in situations dealing with patients with both MID and MH problems, as the care for this patient group can lead to uncertainty and frustration among practitioners (Chapter 6). In addition, practitioners indicate that there is a vast difference between the lived experiences of a patient with MID and a GP, posing a barrier to mutual understanding. Furthermore, patients often have had negative experiences with care professionals in the past. Therefore, building a trustful relationship takes more time and effort with patients with MID than with patients with no ID (Chapter 6). The practitioner adapting the communication level and paying attention to adequate information transfer is supportive in improving the quality of the relationship with patients with (M)ID. 24At the GP practice level, it is important to meet patients’ and practitioners’ frequently articulated needs for extra time and attention to build a trustful doctor–patient relationship (Chapters 5 and 6). Planning for double consultation time and room for regular follow-up consultations can make Katrien Pouls sHL.indd 164 24-06-2024 16:26